Flexible joint.



E. F. BERRY.

FLEXIBLE JOINT.

APPucAnoN man AuG. 5. 1913.

Patented Sept. 14,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Zl/zesses E. F. BERRY.

FLEXIBLE JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED 1116.5. 1913.

1,153,187. Patented sept. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

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EDWARD FRANCIS BERRY, F NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

FLEXIBLE JOINT.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Application tiled Augustl, 1913. Serial No. 783,179.

for use in connection with dredging pipe sections of that type disclosedin my Patent No. 1076738, of October 28, 1913, wherein the broadcharacteristics of the present coupling, as distinguished from theimprovements hereinafter set forth, are claimed, and hence not includedin the claims annexed hereto. y

The present invention vhas for its object the provision of improvementsconstituting a practical, indestructible, flexible coupling,

`@permitting yieldability of the parts in substantially any directionlaterally and longitudinally of the coupled pipe sections, whilepreserving at all times the sealed relation between said sectionsirrespective of the adjustment or deflection thereof; and morespecifically the formation of the packing members to secure the resultthus stated; the means for fastening the packing vtov the memberscarrying the same; and means for pre- `ilventing undue, lengthwiseseparation of the pipe sections to overcome any liability of the packingmember being unseated with reference to the surface of the parts overwhich free portions of the packing move in sealing :izengagementtherewith;

Although the improvements herein to lvbe protected may be incorporatedin various embodiments of the invention, as will be apparent to personsskilled in the art towhichy fthe invention relates, I believe it willherein'- be necessary to illu'strate'but the preferred embodimentthereof, andV from which the improvements may be understood whenconsidered in connection with the detail descripftion hereinaftercontained.

Inthe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the coupling complete; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal`sectional view of the same, TFigs. 3 and,` 4 are respectively,sectional views of two of the coupling members, Fig. 5 is an` endelevation looking-at the larger end of Fig. 3, Fig. 6 is an enlargeddetail sectional view to clearly illustrate one of the packing members.

Referring more specifically to the drawings wherein like referencecharactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views, A and Brepresent the adjacent ends of dredgmg pipe sections, adapted to beiexibly coupled together, and C, D and E, are coupling members, themembers C and E being of a relativelyiixed nature with refratentea sept.14, 1915.

erence to the pipe sections A and B, and the member D being of arelatively floating nature, that ,is not xed with reference to themembers C and E and' dredging sections A and B. The members C and E areconnected to the sections A and B through the medium of liangesor-collars a, c, b and e respectively, bolted together, as at F and G,with suitably interposed packing f and g,

f clearly illustrated in Fig..2. The coupling member C is trulycylindrical, while the members D and E are of sinuous formation toprovide lenlarged end portions d and e respectively, and in the case ofthe floating member D, a reduced end portion d. The reduced end portionof the ioating coupling member D is adapted tot in the enlarged endportion e of the member E, while the larger end portion d thereofreceives the near end of the cylindrical member C.

I prefer to seal the coupling members by suitable packing arranged atthe opposite ends of the sinuous coupling member D, one packing memberexteriorly of the smaller end of said member, and theother packingmember interiorly of the larger end thereof,

yso that the former will engage the inner suring, as clearly shown indetail, Fig. 6 will suffice for both.

\ Referring to Fi packing member 6, it 'will be seen thatthe preferablyof rubber, is

Vec

2, so that a specic description of one packof a cup formation, having athickened base portion 71and an annular ange h of pure` rubberprojectingoutwardly from the base,

v let end of the dredging pipe, in the direction of the flow of the pipecontents therefrom.

To secure the packing in place as well as reinforce the base portionthereof, I provide at the end of the coupling member D, or at the end ofthe member C, as the case may be, a clamping ring J, and inwardlythereof, an angular ring K, having an outwardly projecting iiange 1c anda slotted base ange k',

, for the reception of fastening devices, such as screws L, the slots lcaffording a means` of adjustment to position the ring K on the couplingmember to which it is attached. The base portion h of the packing isinterposed between the rings J and K, and the same is rigidly secured inplace by means of fastening devices, such as screws, rivets, or the likeM, passing through the rings J and K, and binding the base z, of thepacking therebetween and with the inner edge of the packing held firmlyagainst the surface of the member D, or other member to which thepacking is fastened.

From the construction thus far defined, it will be appreciated that theintermediate or floating characteristic of the member D, will permitlateraldeiiection and iiexibility of the dredging pipe, as an entirety,as well aselongation and contraction of the interiitv ting sections, theparts being normally maintained in a contracted relation by means ofsprings N, engaging eyes n, n on the coupling members D and E, and othersprings O, engaging eyes o, o on the members D and C, the latter beingformed in the bolts F, utilized to fasten the pipe section A andcoupling member C together, as hereinabove explained. There` arepreferably four springs, N and O, in each set, as will appear in Figs.1, 2 and 5, although the number will vary as may be in keeping with thedemands of any particular service.

To resist undue elongation of the dredging pipe against the resistanceof the springs N and O which would result in the withdrawal of thepacking members H and I, from the members D and E, as is obvious, I formthe coupling members D and E with annular projecting parts or flangesconstituting shoulders P and Q, the same being.

constructedin any manner familiar to workers in the metal art, againstwhich the reinforced base portionsof the packing members may abut andprevent abnormal lengthwise separation of the coupling members. This Iregard as an important feature'of my present improvements. j

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that in a simple andinexpensive mannerxI have provided a practicable and durable coupling,.especially adapted for the purposes for which it is primarily intended,

to wit, the permitting of flexibility, to ay very considerable extent,while constantly maintaining a sealed relation of the parts, the latterbeing facilitated by reason of the special cup formation of the packingmembers with the reduced free iange portions of the members disposed inthe direction of the iow of material through thepipe whereby theinternal pressures are exerted against the free flanges of the packingand within the cup, to forcibly bind the packing against the wallsopposed thereby,v and which as previously stated, is throughout asubstantial area as compared to a line contact owing to the flatengagement of theentire liange k of the packing against the couplingmember, which said flange faces and over which it works.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A coupling ofthe character described for dredging .pipes and the like comprisingpipesections adapted to be connected, one of said sections beingprovided with an inwardly oilset portion to constitute a shoulder, aflexible packing member on the other pipe section adapted to slidablyengage the shouldered section, said packing comprising a reinforced baseportion and an offsetfree edge portion adapted to have an extensivesurface engagement with the member which it opposes.

2. A coupling of the -for dredging pipes and the like, comprising pipesections adapted to be interitted to permit swinging movement of onesection relative to the other section, means on one` of the sectionscomprising an inwardly projecting flange or ring normally fixed inposition with reference to the said pipe section to constitute a rigidabutting shoulder, a flexible pacln'ng member on the other pipe sectionadapted to slidably engage the character described for dredging pipesand the like comprising shouldered section, said packing having anoffset free edge portion adapted to have an extensive surface engagementwith the section which it opposes inside of said abutting 5 shoulder,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of tfwo Witnesses.

EDWARD FRANCIS BERRY. Witnesses: v

W. M. HARRISON, A. C. ALEXANDER.

